HSV's historic Bundesliga start fuels crisis for Polzin

On 14 September 2026 the Hamburger SV (HSV) found itself at the bottom of the Bundesliga table after three games, with zero points and zero goals scored – the worst start in the club's long history.

Early praise and transfer policy

Just two weeks earlier the club’s officials, led by sport director Claus Costa, were lauded for their ambitious transfer policy. The deadline‑day signings of fan favourite Fabio Vieira, Zakaria El Ouahdi and David Möller Wolfe formed a high‑profile player trio that raised expectations among supporters.

However, the optimism quickly faded. HSV suffered a 0‑2 defeat in Dortmund, followed by 0‑5 losses to Mainz and Leipzig. In the second half of the Leipzig match they conceded three goals within six minutes, bringing the total goals against to twelve.

Contract talks and captain's view

Head coach Merlin Polzin, 35, stressed the need for unity, saying, "We must show we are a team and stand together." He added that singling out individuals would not help, as the whole squad shares responsibility.

Polzin’s contract is due to expire, and both he and the club have indicated a desire to extend it. Sport director Kathleen Krüger confirmed before the latest match that a renewal is being pursued, though no agreement has been reached yet.

Captain Nicolai Remberg could not "pretty‑talk" the Leipzig result but noted that the team had shown better ideas than against Mainz. He reminded everyone that "our heads stay up, no matter what happens," recalling a similar early‑season slump a year ago.

One year earlier HSV had conceded seven goals after three games and sat second‑last with a single point. The first victory arrived on the fourth matchday, a 2‑1 win over Heidenheim.

The club has invested around 30 million euros in squad development, heightening expectations for immediate improvement. Polzin described the situation as a "tightrope" between past performance and the harsh reality on the pitch.

Looking ahead, HSV hope to reverse their fortunes on Saturday at 15:30 when they face 1. FC Köln, a match that could signal the start of a recovery.